Chester l



uiten tetta etwt @High .CHESTER L. JOHNSO, OF UTICA, NEW`YORK.

Letters Patent No. 78,745, dated J'tme 9, 1868.

' TOP.

Anm

To ALL WHoM I'r MA-Y CONCERM.

Be it known that I, CHESTER L. JOHNSON, of Utica, Oneida county, New York, have invented an Improvement in Tops.

The top is of the description operatf-l by the unwinding of a cord from around the stem; and my improvement consists 'in Surrounding it with a spherical casing, with the axes of the top extending through such casing,

4and a hole in the sideof the casing for 'operating the cord, hymeansof which the top may be made to run within the casing while held in the hand, and the casing to turn with the top, when running on the door.

And I d q hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of` my said invention, 'and of the mode of operation f the sume, reference being had to the annexed drawingsfmaking a part of this specification, which represents a vertical section through the centre.

A is the top.

Al is the point or lower end ofthe axis.

A2 is the stem. v

A3, a shoulder or flange thereon.

A, the upper. end of the axis.

B is the cord.

C, the casing.

C1, the opening therein for the cord. p

The top may be of any ordinary form, but it must have a stem, A Z, around which a string or cord, lll-may be wound. This stem has a ilange -or shoulder, A3, at its u-pper end, the under side of which will regulate the Ywinding of the cord, and the upper side form a bearing for the casing, when the top is running on its point on the ioor, by means of which hearing lthe casing is carried around with the top. The length of the top and stem should be slightly less than the inside diameter of the casing, so that the top may'freely turn within it, except when the top is turning on the door, when the casing will press down on the bearing A3, and turn with the top as mentioned.

The point of the top Ail extends through the casing, and a little beyond, and the upper end of the stem has a corresponding point, A, extending upwards, also through the casing.

-The cord B is attached permanently to the stem, and when the ltop is to be operated, it is drawn through the hole or opening Cl in the casing.

The operation is as follows: The top ist-aken in one hand, and the string drawn out rapidly with the other. This will set the top whirling in the casing, and if now the string is let go, the top will continue to turn till the power is spent. It', while it is so turning, it is thrown on the door, or other convenient place, with its point down, the top will not only continue to` t-urn, but will impart its whirling motion to the casing, by means of the contact of the casing with the shoulder or bearing A3. It', again, the top is taken up, the casing will cease to turn, but the top itself will continue to run till the power which set it in motion is spent. Of course the casing may be an open frame as well as closed sphere.

The improved top makes a pretty toy, and one which is-most readily operated.

Having thus described m.y invention, what I clim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-' The top A and casing O, constructed substantially as described.

CHESTER L. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE M. WEAVER, Jo'HN G. CROCKER. 

